This notification of the Pittsburgh Diocese asserted that the SSPX and its newly-acquired St. James Church “is not in full communion with the Catholic Church”.

The SSPX’s press release responded with this statement:

“The SSPX and the Catholics frequenting its sacraments have never proven to be declared schismatic, heretical or excommunicated by the authorities of the Church who alone are competent to deliver such a judgment.”

The Society of St. Pius X is an international religious congregation of the Roman Catholic Church founded with the Vatican’s permission in 1970, whose mission is to form priests and is renowned for its fidelity to Tradition and promotion of the immemorial Roman Mass offered in Latin.